TIG or MIG for steel less than 1/16" thick?

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Hi,Newbie question here I have an inverter stick welder and I can weld most stuff down to 1/16" steel. 1/16" is tricky for me but doable. Unfortunately a lot of the square tubing I use has this wall thickness. I use 1/16" 7018 but I often feel that an even thinner electrode would have been even better but there are no such thing.So I was thinking that maybe I should look into getting a mig or a tig for what I'm doing and also something that allows me to weld thinner stuff than 1/16". What do you guys think would be the best?Thanks for any advice.Best,PetePS. I also have a O/A setup but I have so far used it only for heating and cutting, not welding. Is it possible to weld 1/16" or thinner with gas or would the heat warping be too much?Last edited by Pete.S.; 03-17-2013 at 09:22 PM.
Reply:If you can stick, you can mig. Tig has a learning curve.Weld like a "WELDOR", not a wel-"DERR" MillerDynasty700DX,Dynasty350DX4ea,Dynasty200DX,Li  ncolnSW200-2ea.,MillerMatic350P,MillerMatic200w/spoolgun,MKCobraMig260,Lincoln SP-170T,PlasmaCam/Hypertherm1250,HFProTig2ea,MigMax1ea.
Reply:Mig.  You could weld with your O/A torch but it takes lots of practice.  Yes, the heat with a torch can cause lots of metal warp, that is the advantage of TIG.  I weld thin metal all the time with my torch but not flat sheet for that reason.
Reply:How much of a learning curve would there be do a reasonable job on the tig with 20 gauge? Are we talking about several weeks, months or years?
Reply:Depends on how fast of a learner you are. 20g is think, but if you use aluminum or copper backing plate it helps a lot.Torchmate 2x2 CNC with Flashcut CNC controlsHypertherm Powermax45 Esab ET220i Razorweld 195 MigRazorweld 200ac/dc TigTormach 770, Tormach xstechRazorweld, Vipercut/Vipermig, SSC Foot Pedal Dealer
Reply:Originally Posted by Pete.S.How much of a learning curve would there be do a reasonable job on the tig with 20 gauge? Are we talking about several weeks, months or years?
Reply:On square tubing the added shrinkage possible with O/A should not cause an issue at all. I would consider it a much more precision process than either stick or mig on that material. If the project allows it, brazing on that type of material is quite common to create strong and attractive joints.
Reply:I say go for TIG.  If you're not going into aluminum, you can always get decent TIG welders for a good price.  The ability to TIG aluminum makes the welder cost go up substantially. 1st on WeldingWeb to have a scrolling sig! HTP Invertig 400HTP Invertig 221HTP ProPulse 300HTP ProPulse 200 x2HTP ProPulse 220MTSHTP Inverarc 200TLP HTP Microcut 875SC
Reply:Thanks for all your replies!OK, so if I understand correctly - both mig and tig would be suitable for thin sheet metal but tig takes a lot more practice, in the range of hundreds of hours. And O/A welding would also work for certain jobs but also takes a lot of practice.I wonder if there are any special features required on a mig used for thin sheet metal or will any machine do the job?Actually I also enjoy learning new skills and there are two things I can do that takes very little investment in money for me. I could learn O/A welding since I have the gear and also someone who can teach me. Question is how much of those O/A welding skills would translate into tig?I could get a tig torch for my arc welder, it has a lift tig mode. I might be able to modify it so I can hook up a remote as well. The unit goes down to a minimum of 10 Amp. But I wonder, is a lift tig setup too crude for working on thin sheet metal?PeteLast edited by Pete.S.; 03-18-2013 at 02:25 PM.Reason: Added minimum amps on my lincoln
Reply:Originally Posted by Pete.S.[*]I could learn O/A welding since I have the gear and also someone who can teach me. Question is how much of those O/A welding skills would translate into tig?
Reply:Originally Posted by Pete.S.Thanks for all your replies!OK, so if I understand correctly - both mig and tig would be suitable for thin sheet metal but tig takes a lot more practice, in the range of hundreds of hours. And O/A welding would also work for certain jobs but also takes a lot of practice.I wonder if there are any special features required on a mig used for thin sheet metal or will any machine do the job?Actually I also enjoy learning new skills and there are two things I can do that takes very little investment in money for me. I could learn O/A welding since I have the gear and also someone who can teach me. Question is how much of those O/A welding skills would translate into tig?I could get a tig torch for my arc welder, it has a lift tig mode. I might be able to modify it so I can hook up a remote as well. The unit goes down to a minimum of 10 Amp. But I wonder, is a lift tig setup too crude for working on thin sheet metal?Pete
Reply:Originally Posted by joshuabardwellI'm really interested to hear the answer to this question. It has always seemed to me like O/A and TIG skill should transfer over, since both of them involve running a heat source with one hand and a filler rod with the other hand. But there's a lot of difference between an electric arc and a flame, and with TIG you've also got the potential for a pedal to be involved, changing the heat dynamically, which doesn't happen with O/A.
Reply:Thanks for everyones advice. I've decided to move forward getting a portable good quality mig and also look into brazing and welding with my O/A setup. Next step for me is to see if I can make a pedal for my arc welder inverter and then get a tig torch to go with that. It will be DC and lift start but at least it will get me started with the tig process and it only requires a small investment.
Reply:If your arc welder is not set up with contactor and amp control already, it's not gonna be so easy to convert it.What welder do you have?I'm no pro, but scratch start DC Tig is totally fine without a pedal.  You need a valved torch.Don't even think about Aluminum without a real machine with amp, gas, HF and contactor control.It also depends on what your goals are.  Mig is literally ten times faster as a process.  If you're doing large areas and seams, you're gonna want a mig.Last edited by Drf255; 03-20-2013 at 05:15 AM.TA Arcmaster 300CM3XMT 304S22P12 suitcase feederX-Treme 12VSOptima pulserTA161SMaxstar 150STLHypertherm PM45OP setupStihl 020AVP, 039, 066 Magnum
Reply:Hate to ride someone else's thread but his question about 1/16th and smaller welding is something I am trying to learn at home myself. I recently acquired 110v clarke hotshot mig w/spoolgun.  I would like to learn how to weld very thin walled but larger diameter piping with it. Would this be a good weapon to use against these odds?  My welds so far belong in the weld fail thread, lol, but I'm starting to learn how to choose the right speed and amperage (of which there are only 4) choices, by ear.Last edited by WhoUtink; 03-20-2013 at 06:22 AM.
Reply:Just as a reminder, MILLER has their REBATE sale currently in progress.  The 211 is a pretty Hot seller. Multi volt 110/220 .http://www.millerwelds.com/landing/build-with-blue/
Reply:Some MIG units work better down low than others.  The Lincoln 175s are said to be very good, as are the Hobart Handler 187 & 190 units."USMCPOP" First-born son: KIA  Iraq 1/26/05Syncrowave 250 w/ Coolmate 3Dialarc 250, Idealarc 250SP-175 +Firepower TIG 160S (gave the TA 161 STL to the son)Lincwelder AC180C (1952)Victor & Smith O/A torchesMiller spot welder
Reply:Originally Posted by OldendumSome MIG units work better down low than others.  The Lincoln 175s are said to be very good, as are the Hobart Handler 187 & 190 units.
Reply:Originally Posted by Drf255If your arc welder is not set up with contactor and amp control already, it's not gonna be so easy to convert it.What welder do you have?
Reply:Have you looked at the ESAB line?Weld like a "WELDOR", not a wel-"DERR" MillerDynasty700DX,Dynasty350DX4ea,Dynasty200DX,Li  ncolnSW200-2ea.,MillerMatic350P,MillerMatic200w/spoolgun,MKCobraMig260,Lincoln SP-170T,PlasmaCam/Hypertherm1250,HFProTig2ea,MigMax1ea.
Reply:Originally Posted by Pete.S.I'm looking at Lincoln Speedtec 180C which is their new inverter mig, hoping it is as good as what I understand the 175 and 180 are.
Reply:Originally Posted by shovelonHave you looked at the ESAB line?
Reply:I've heard a lot of good things about the ESAB 200i, and Kemppi's 200A inverter MIG seems nicer still.There's no Lincoln inverter like that on this side of the pond, our 180C is a heavy transformer model. Might be an Italian-built unit like their Invertec TIGs.Let us know what you decide.JohnA few weldersA lot of hammersA whole lot of C-clamps